FreedomWorks supports GOP’s first move to repeal Obamacare as US Senate divides
Following the passage of the FY 2017 budget resolution to begin the process of ObamaCare repeal, FreedomWorks CEO Adam Brandon commented:
“One of the reasons voters gave Republicans a unified government was because of ObamaCare. This law has failed, leading to premium increases, less competition in the marketplace, and higher budget deficits. The ball is now in Republicans’ court to finally deliver on their promises to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with a patient-centered alternative that expands health savings accounts, promotes portability, creates high-risk pools for patients with preexisting conditions, and block-grants Medicaid to the states.”
“It’s vital that the reconciliation bill that moves through Congress is consistent with the reconciliation bill that passed in the previous Congress. That is the bare minimum that conservatives should accept. Republicans must also quickly move on an alternative to ensure that ObamaCare – every word of it – is thrown into the dust bin of history.”
photo Will O’Neill via Flickr
FreedomWorks will not score the FY 2017 budget resolution, S.Con.Res. 3, on its 2017 Congressional Scorecard because of the spending and debt levels it authorized. FreedomWorks did, however, key vote in favor of Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) amendment in the Senate to freeze on-budget spending at FY 2017 levels throughout the ten-year budget window.
The U.S. Senate vote last week, 51-48, approved a budget resolution instructing House and Senate committees to begin work on legislation to repeal major portions of the Affordable Care Act. Paul voted no over concerns that GOP leaders have not committed to a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act
“Because there is no replace, I vote no,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) as she delivered her vote.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that Democrats intended to ensure that Republicans are held responsible for any chaos caused by ending President Obama’s landmark law providing roughly 20 million people with coverage in various ways.
“Put this irresponsible and rushed repeal plan aside,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Work with us Democrats on a way to improve health care in America, not put chaos in place of affordable care.”
President-elect Donald Trump insisted that repeal would not occur without a replacement plan. “Obamacare is the Democrats’ problem. We’re going to take the problem off the shelves for them. We’re doing them a tremendous favor,” Trump said.
FreedomWorks aims to educate, build, and mobilize the largest network of activists advocating the principles of smaller government, lower taxes, free markets, personal liberty and the rule of law. For more information, please visit www.FreedomWorks.org
photo Andrew Aliferis via Flickr
